Variety of cordyline plant named &#34;Bra01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cordyline  plant named ‘BRA01’ characterized by a small clump forming growth habit with deep purple-black foliage and a relatively short intemodel space.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCordyline plant, botanically known as Cordyline fruiticosa and furtherknown by the varietal name ‘BRA01’. This new variety is also sold underthe trade name CARUBA BLACK. The new variety was discovered as a sportof a wild green Cordyline fruiticosa and collected by Michael Yappi inthe Western Highlands region of New Guinea in Mt. Hagen. The sport wasthen provided to a plant collector, Michael Ferrero of Cairns,Queensland Australia, and imported to plant breeder Peter Brauns ofPlant Source Australia who performed further trials and selections usingvegetative reproduction techniques. The parental cultivar is a greenleaved Cordyline fruiticosa (unpatented). The cuttings were planted outand plants with desirable ornamental characteristics were selected. Thecultivar was isolated by the inventor in Australia by selectingprimarily on the basis of compact growth habit, foliage color, andsuitability as a garden or container grown plant.

Following selection of the plant, the cultivar was propagatedvegetatively through cutting and division at Edmonton, Queensland,Australia. Continued observation of the vegetative divisions resultingfrom asexual reproduction taken at Edmonton, Queensland, Australia haveconfirmed that the distinguishing features of this new cultivar cametrue, remain stable and are retained through successive propagation.

The closest comparator to ‘BRA01’ known to applicant is Cordylinefruiticosa ‘Hawaiian Flag’ (unpatented) which is a clump forming plantwith green foliage and some purple and yellow variegations, a mean widthof 92 mm, and a mean length of 389 mm excluding the petiole. The parentwild green C. fruiticosa has green foliage and a plant size up to 1.8meters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘BRA01’ have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,length of day, irrigation amount and frequency, and/or fertilizer ratewithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe among the unique characteristics of ‘BRA01’. These characteristicsdistinguish ‘BRA01’ as a new and distinct cultivar from its closestcomparator Cordyline fruiticosa ‘Hawaiian Flag’:

1. Purple-black leaves with deep green hues;

2. Compact growth habit up to 1.2 meters;

3. Shorter leaf length;

4. Smaller leaf width; and

5. Shorter intemodal space.

Compared to other plants of the Cordyline genus, the new Cordyline has adistinctive foliage with purple-black leaves having deep green hues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is depicted in the accompanying colored photographs inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a potted plant illustrating the characteristic foliage.

The photograph depicts the overall appearance of the new Cordyline,showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain incolored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differslightly from the color values cited in the Detailed BotanicalDescription which more accurately describe the actual colors of the newCordyline.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newcultivar. The data which defines each characteristic was collected fromasexual reproductions of the plant grown in an open greenhouse withirrigation provided by drip feeding in a hydroponic system, and carriedout by the observer at Edmonton, Queensland, Australia. The planthistories of Cordyline ‘BRA01’ were taken on 2 pots with 3 plants eachand taking place in approximately January 2004 through June 2004.

In the following table of plant characteristics, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society of London Colour Chart, 1995Edition. The measurements were taken from mature leaves.

The Plant

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Cordyline fruiticosa.        -   Varietal name.—‘BRA01’.        -   Parentage.—Sport of wild green Cordyline fruiticosa.        -   Asexual propagation.—root division and cuttings.-   Form:    -   -   Plant growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Growth habit.—Upright, clumping, and compact.        -   Plant density.—Bushy.        -   Growth type.—Clumping.        -   Mean plant height.—650 mm.        -   Mean plant width.—550 mm.        -   Stem.—Scapes — branching arrangement Mean stem diameter —            9.75 mm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Leaf color.—Purple-black group RHS 200A with deep green            hues.        -   Leaf shape.—Petiolate with lobed leaves.        -   Mean Leaf width (mm).—69.6 mm.        -   Mean Leaf length (mm).—286 mm (excluding petiole).        -   Leaf characteristics.—Apex — V-shaped Margin — Slight            undulations Texture — Smooth, semi-glossy Shape — Lobed with            a long petiole.        -   Petiole mean length.—105.86 mm.        -   Petiole mean width.—18.62 mm.        -   Petiole shape.—Curves upward, not joining.        -   Petiole color (inside).—144B.        -   Petiole color (outside).—200B with a Burgundy hue.-   Inflorescence: May not flower in temperate zones.

General Characteristics

‘BRA01’ is primarily distinguished from other cultivars of Cordylinegenus by its purple-black foliage, compact growth habit, and shorterinternodal space. ‘BRA01’ is a bushy clump forming plant with an uprightcompact growth habit wherein the leaves are petiolate and lobed with asmooth, semi-glossy texture and slight undulations on their margins.

1. A new and distinct Cordyline fruticosa plant named ‘BRA01’substantially as illustrated and described.